Carbon offset
for a greener planet
1294.7 metric tons
TOTAL OFFSET SINCE 2019
Starting in 2019,
we
teamed up with South Pole in an effort to do
our part in reducing the carbon footprint of the packages we send out into the
world. With our Carbon Offset program, a donation will automatically be made to
South Pole with each purchase of Adagio Teas, at no additional cost to you. That
contribution will then be used to help sponsor the offset of two pounds of
carbon through one of South Pole's initiatives. Easy peasy!
Reforestation
United States
Paradigm Project
Kenya
Run-of-River Hydropower
Vietnam
Forest Restoration
Mexico
Reforestation - United States
THE CONTEXT
Wild salmon populations in the Pacific Northwest are thought to have declined by 98% since the turn of the 20th century. This is largely due to habitat degradation and loss. One example is the increase in pavement and hard surfaces next to salmon spawning rivers which lead to toxic stormwater runoff polluting the water. This project addresses this by planting trees in urban areas and along waterways in Pierce County, Washington State.
THE PROJECT
This project is planting over 6,000 native trees–like, red cedar, fir, big leaf maple, and alder–on Pierce County's publicly-owned green spaces, for example along Clarks Creek and tributary of the Puyallup River that supports chinook, coho, chum, steelhead and cutthroat trout. Like all reforestation projects, it's never as simple as just planting some seedlings, the land needs to be prepared and the trees require a lot of care. Invasive species, like reed canary grass, scotch broom and non-native blackberry, are removed and deterrents to stop deer and other animals from eating the tasty young saplings are put in place. The project will tend to the trees over the next 25 years to ensure as many as possible reach full maturity.
THE BENEFITS
By planting a range of native tree species in carefully considered locations, the project is restoring precious ecosystems. Along rivers and streams, trees provide shade and soil stability, keeping them cool, oxygen-rich and free of sediment: the conditions wild salmon need to thrive. The trees sequester carbon dioxide as they grow and improve the beauty of urban areas for the local community to enjoy.
Paradigm Project - Kenya
THE CONTEXT
Most Kenyan households spend a significant portion of their time and income acquiring fuel for cooking and water boiling. The continual collection of firewood by Kenyan populations results in the exhaustion of wood supplies around townships in Paradigm target populations. Many people are forced to travel further from the town (upwards of 15km) to collect fuel. In the worst cases, mothers are gone for many hours, causing difficulty for children and nursing infants.
THE PROJECT
This project distributes efficient and clean household energy and safe water technologies. Due to more efficient stoves and clean water provision, families require less wood fuel for water purification and cooking - thereby reducing pressures on surrounding forests. Replacing traditional cooking methods with locally manufactured cookstoves reduces fuel use by about 50%, while decreasing toxic emissions by up to 70%. To date, over 65,000 modern, highly efficient cookstoves have been delivered.
THE BENEFITS
These improved cookstoves enable households to save up to 15% of their household income for food, school fees and other vital needs. Improved indoor air quality significantly reduces respiratory diseases and pneumonia. Safe water filters and community dispensers improve access to clean and affordable drinking water, thereby decreasing water-borne diseases. The project creates jobs for locals and empowers women by creating financial and time savings that can be repurposed in ways that better their families' lives.
Hydropower - Vietnam
THE CONTEXT
In countries like Vietnam, where infrastructure is racing to keep up with increasing energy demands, initiatives that utilise clean, alternative ways to generate electricity are on the rise. Hydropower technology is a viable alternative to fossil fuels, especially for remote areas that often do not have a consistent supply of energy to their homes.
THE PROJECT
This project consists of hydropower projects with an installed capacity of up to 30 MW. River water is diverted into turbines that in turn generate clean, fossil-fuel free energy. The electricity generated by each plant is then transmitted to the closest grid connection anywhere across Vietnam. By providing an alternative energy source to the burning of fossil fuels, this project reduces the amount of greenhouse gas emissions entering the atmosphere.
THE BENEFITS
Beyond environmental benefits, this initiative creates social and economic opportunities for inhabitants of the project area. Jobs are created for local people both during construction and operation phases of the plants. By improving lowquality infrastructure systems where minority ethnicities settle, the project provides additional service benefits for local communities. The project has upgraded roads and traffic systems. Moreover, the communication system and clean water treatment serving for workers of the project during both construction and operation phases is shared with local people.
Forest Restoration - Mexico
THE CONTEXT
Employment in rural Mexico, particularly in the south, is often informal, uncertain and relies heavily on the agricultural sector. However, extensive livestock farming has led to land degradation, deforestation and loss of wildlife habitat. This project aims to restore the land and create stable job opportunities, in line with legal standards, in order to transform the long-term prosperity of the region.
THE PROJECT
The project is planting teak trees on degraded land in the states of Tabasco, Chiapas and Campeche, in the south of the United States of Mexico. Part of the areas will be used for sustainable commercial purposes and part will be protected conservation areas to allow wildlife and biodiversity to thrive.
THE BENEFITS
The project is driving significant economic development in a sustainable way by creating new jobs for local people, training them in forest management and creating a supply chain of teak wood. As the trees grow not only do they sequester carbon dioxide, helping to mitigate global warming, by biodiversity, soil quality and water conservation are enhanced.
